Latest market data

Stock search

U.S. consumer sentiment took an expected tumble this month after
hitting a six-year high in July, according to a survey released
today. The Thomson Reuters/University of Michigan's preliminary
reading on consumer sentiment dropped to 80.0 from 85.1 last
month, the lowest reading in four months.

The decline came as a surprise. Forecasts had expected index to
show an increase in the reading to 85.3 or 85.5, either of which
would have been a new six-year high.

According to a statement obtained by Reuters, survey director
Richard Curtin said that consumers still expect the economy to
continuing growing, though at a slower rate than before.

"Perhaps the most important recent changes have been the increase
in home values as well as the jump in the numbers that expect
interest rate increases during the year ahead," Curtin said,
according to Reuters.

Housing starts rose to a seasonally adjusted annual rate of
896,000 units – nearly six percent higher than the June estimate
of 846,000 units and more than 20 percent higher than July of
last year – but below estimates of a 900,000-unit rate. Permits
increased by 2.7 percent since June, reaching a seasonally
adjusted annual rate of 943,000 units. The results came in just
shy of the 945,000-unit rate economists were expecting.